Villagers protest river pollution

SEMARANG: About 150 residents of Dekoro village in the Central Java regency of Pekalongan thronged the local legislature on Thursday, protesting water pollution reportedly caused by garment factories located near their housing complex.

"Thousands of people are suffering from various diseases such as skin rashes and diarrhea, and many fish have died. Worst of all, we lack clean water," spokesman for the residents, Samsul P.D., said.

He named three companies -- PT Kesmatex, PT Ezritex and PT Bintang Tri Putratex -- as the source of the pollution, claiming they had poor water treatment systems.

The group demanded that legislators push the local government to take measures against the textile companies.

"We demand compensation for all the losses we have suffered from the industry," Samsul said. (har/edt)